ALBUQUERQUE — The University of New Mexico football team and Albuquerque Isotopes baseball team are joining forces for the New Mexico Fire Relief campaign, a two-day drive to collect donations for The American Red Cross in New Mexico.
Members of both the UNM football team and the Isotopes will greet donors during a two-day event Friday and Saturday. The Lobos, the Red Cross and Cumulus Media volunteers will be on hand for a drive-through collection in the north parking lot of the Pit on Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
Lobos and Isotopes players also will assist with fundraising efforts outside the Isotopes Park gates two hours before the baseball team’s 7:05 p.m. games Friday and Saturday against Round Rock.
The Lobo football team will hold its preseason training camp in Ruidoso for the third consecutive year in August as it prepares for its 2012 season opener against Southern University Sept. 1 at University Stadium.
It was the UNM program’s relationship with the village of Ruidoso that prompted the program to reach out to that community after the Little Bear fire broke out in early June.
UNM vice president for athletics Paul Krebs contacted the Albuquerque Isotopes to help the football program with the campaign. Together, the entities agreed to extend the offer of aid to the entire state of New Mexico.
“Giving back to the community and the state is a priority for the entire University of New Mexico athletic department,” Krebs said. “These fires are devastating to the state. This has really struck home with our football coaches and players as the Ruidoso community has embraced our fall camp.”
The American Red Cross in New Mexico will be in charge of directing how the donation money will be distributed in the relief effort.
To donate money directly to the Red Cross, go to www.RedCrossNewMexico.org.